Pet food in the United States is regulated at both the state and federal level. At the federal level, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has exclusive oversight over pet food. At the state level, various state government agencies have established laws and regulations for pet food, often based in whole, or in part, on model rules created by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). While AAFCO has no regulatory authority, it heavily influences pet food regulation by establishing many of the laws and guidelines followed by individual states.
Nearly all states (with the exception of Alaska) require pet food products sold within the state to be registered, and for pet food labels to adhere to strict requirements regarding product names and ingredients. In these states, an ingredient which has not been recognized by either the FDA or AAFCO cannot be used in pet food.
This patchwork of legal and regulatory oversight has created some uncertainty for pet food manufacturers, with even more potential changes on the horizon.
Given the dynamic legal and regulatory landscape, our blog series will aim to provide information about the current legal and regulatory terrain, upcoming legislative and regulatory changes, as well as practical insights concerning the implementation and enforcement of this dynamic mix of laws and regulations.
In the coming weeks we will cover a variety of topics, including:
- Federal regulation
- State regulation
- AAFCO and its role
- AAFCO’s updated model rules
- The proposed Purr Act of 2024
Stay tuned for our upcoming posts.